Bringin’ On The Heartbreak – Def Leppard | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#61); 1984
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Future Def Leppard singer Joe Elliott spent time in art class drawing up posters for famous rock bands and, sometimes, fictitious ones. A poster for the non-existent Deaf Leopard ended up on his bedroom wall which is where future bandmates Rick Savage, Pete Willis, and Tony Kenning spotted it.
Kenning didn’t last, however, his changes to the name did. With the addition of Steve Clark and Rick Allen, the initial Def Leppard line-up was complete. Soon the Sheffield teens were opening for AC/DC, signing with a major label, and landing on the charts with 1980’s long player On Through The Night.
Producer Robert “Mutt” Lange joined Def Leppard for High ‘n’ Dry in 1981. Although High‘s figures bested Night‘s, it was Lange and Leppard’s next release – Pyromania – that broke them wide open.
After radio ran out of tracks to play off Pyromania, they picked up on a re-released High ‘n’ Dry, which sported a remixed version of Bringin’ On The Heartbreak.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Robert John “Mutt” Lange
Lyrics Written by:
- Steve Clark
- Pete Willis
- Joe Elliott
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).